Have you noticed a few glistening fire hydrants around town? More than 1,200 hydrants were painted by the teenagers of Allen, Texas, who organized and propelled themselves into a vast army of volunteers on April 27, 2013.
The project was initiated through the Allen Ministerial Alliance and was done in conjunction with the City of Allen’s Keep Allen Beautiful annual City Clean-up Day.
Youth from 14 to 18 years of age signed up to repaint the fire hydrants throughout the city of Allen. Nearly 500 young people and 100 adult chaperones volunteered. Members of many churches helped out, including members of The First Baptist Church of Allen, Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, St. Jude’s Catholic Church, The Islamic Association of Allen, The Allen Jewish Temple and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. National Honor Society Members, Key Club Members, Skills, USA, Community Service Assignees, Boy Scout Troops, and others soon joined this movement.
The group met at 8 a.m. at the Allen High School Track Stadium where Pastor Chad Selph of the First Baptist Church offered an invocation. Mayor Pro-tem Gary Caplinger read a city proclamation expressing gratitude to the volunteers willing help with the project. Allen Fire Department Battalion Chief Don Bailey thanked the volunteers for their service and shared what it meant to be keeping the families in Allen safe. Emily Mason served as the MC cheering and encouraging the volunteers.
They were asked to work until approximately 1 p.m., but there were some like Hailey Jensen who said, “I won’t stop until I get all of my hydrants done!” And she didn’t.
Area businesses assisted by supplying materials: Sherwin Williams provided paint and brushes, Home Depot supplied paint brushes, and Lowe’s donated wire brushes for preparation of the fire hydrants. This was truly a community effort to benefit the entire city of Allen planned and implemented by the youth of the various churches.
Several citizens asked, “When will they come to my neighborhood?” The participants found it an opportunity get to know people they had never met prior to this event. Abigail Ramsey of Skills USA and Abigail Heidenreich of The Church of Jesus Christ were assigned to the same team. They had never met prior to the event, but learned they attended the same school. As the day proceeded, they became friends as they shared many things in common.
Today, the fire hydrants stand out with their glistening silver trunks and blue headdresses, proudly sporting the work of 500 pairs of willing hands.